Need help choosing new GPS...

[Bigcat]

I want to buy a hand held GPS unit with some Christmas cash. I have $150-$200 to spend. Any suggestions on what brand to get and what features to look for.........

Thanks in advance! Fish on!!

Bigcat
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[Fishrmn]

Bigcat,

I bought a Lowrance iFinder for $146.44 at Wal-Mart last March. I bought one for $110.00 in August for my daughter. My brother, my wife's nephew, and three of the guys I work with got them for $139.00 on line.

It has a 16 meg base map of the world. It has a slot for an MMC card, and will hold a 256 meg card. That would be enough for 20 states. It is WAAS enabled.

I've owned two other GPS units, one Lowrance, and one Eagle. I've used two Garmin units, and one Magellan. The Magellan was really old, so it doesn't count. The one Garmin was the yellow etrex. It was inexpensive at $120. but I didn't like the buttons on the side, and I hate the lack of memory. It can store enough waypoints, but you can't name them. You can only use 6 characters to name a waypoint. Uncle Bob's cabin at White River would have to be something like "UBcaWR" on the etrex.

The iFinder can have 28 characters or UncleBobCabinWhiteRiver for the name of the same waypoint. Room for 1000 waypoints, and 1000 event markers.

I'm sure there are more sophisticated units, Lowrance is now making the iFinder Pro and the iFinder Pro Plus, but for a $150.00 unit, I think the iFinder is hard to beat.

Fishrmn

[Willski4food]

Here are my two bits.... In choosing a GPS you need to figure what you are going to use it for. I like a GPS that has a MAX Speed feature. (because you can throw it in my pocket when I am skiing) But if you are going to use it for Snowmobiling, hiking or marking trails or trips get one with alot of memory. I have owned a few and Garmin or magellen are your best bet.. But as long as they tell you where you are and where you are going. BUY IT. But one feature that you might want is the capability of downloading Topo maps. Depending on what you are using it for.
I own a Magellan Map pro and it is awesome.


My two bits
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[Old_Coot]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]I know I don't know much about the different brands of GPS's out there but I have several friends with the Garman Legacy. I would love to have one. It's mapping, memory and crystal resolution are very appealing. I have the Garman Etrex which is the same size as the Legacy but without the high resolution, mapping, and large memory. My Etrex only cost $100 at Galyans but I have used it MANY hours. Use it a LOT for troling speeds and GPS coordinates. I've worked it VERY hard. It realy takes a beating. The Legacy costs about double that. Hey, I'll sell you my Etrex for $70 and I'll go get me a Legacy ... what do ya say?[/size][/font]
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[Bigcat]

Fishrmn-
Thank you for the info. You bring up some good points about having memory, being able to expand memory, WAAS enabled, and being able to adequately name waypoints. Sounds like the iFinder may be a good way to go. I was looking at the Garmin etrex legend which has a base map of world, WAAS enabled, 8 meg memory (not expandable), and 12 characters for waypoints (not enough for uncle Bobs cabin though). It also has 1000 waypoints but don't know about event markers???? It will memorize 20 routes with 125 waypoints on each. Will the iFinder do routes and whats the difference between waypoints and event markers? The etrex Legend is selling for $199. It sounds like the iFinder may be a better deal with more memory, more expandability, and more room to write unclebobs..... It the unit pretty small in size. The other problem I may have is that I have a $150 gift card to Sportsmans warehouse and I didn't see any handheld Lowrance units there.......Hmmmmmmmmmm What do you mostly use yours for? I want mine for marking fishing spots both in the boat and while on the ice and for marking occasional trolling runs. Would the iFinder work well for that purpose? Thanks for the info, much appreciated! Fish on!
Bigcat
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[Bigcat]

Thanks willski and coot for your input. I am mainly going to use it for marking fishing spots while on the ice and in a boat and for marking trolling runs. How accurate are these units anyway? Most of the info online says 15 to 25 feet... what has your experience been with that? Coot do you mean the Legend model rather then the legacy?? I can't find any info on the legacy..... I was looking at the Legend myself but fishrmns post about the iFinder sounds like it could be a better deal...
Thank you for your input, it is very helpful! Fish on!
Bigcat
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[Hellsangler69]

prevous GPS thread . Might have some info you are looking for .

[url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=33384;search_string=search_string;#33384"]http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=33384;search_string=search_string;#33384[/url]

I bought a Magellan sport pro . and am still learning on how it works .
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[Bigcat]

HA69-
Thanks, Very helpful thread.

Bigcat
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[Fishrmn]

Bigcat,

I think the iFinder has 100 routes, 100 waypoints per route. An event marker is placing an icon (the iFinder has 42) at an indefinate location. You can navigate to it, but it is not going to be very accurate. Depending on how close you are zoomed, and where you put it (center of screen while standing still) you may be within a dozen yards or so.

The base map has exit information for all freeways, and most secondary highways. If you get the software you can load street level information. They sell preloaded MMC cards for different regions. (5 states per card) They are even strarting to sell cards that have popular lakes with depth contours programmed in. You can swap cards between buddies, and between the really high dollar Lowrance fishfinder/GPS combo units.

It may not have topographic contours yet, but I don't see why it couldn't have in the future.

One of the things that I really hated about the etrex was the buttons on the side. I found myself turning the thing from front to side, to front, to side, to front, to side, to front, to side in order to enter coordinates and names.

Sportsman's can get the iFinder. I don't know their price for it though. They had a Brunton unit at Midvale that is the same unit under a different brand name. Kinda like GMC and Chevy. Same unit, different decal on the case.

I'm a real fan of Lowrance, but Garmin does make some nice units. The map72 and map76 are good units. Magellan has some nice units too.

Good luck picking one. Hahaha.

Fishrmn

[IceFanatic3]

I got one of those new Garmin Rhino's and it has been really good plus it has a walkie talkie in it too! so you can talk to other people in your group while out hiking or hunting, I used mine on last years Muzzel deer hunt and I went all over in places that I wouldn't without my gps plus I marked alot of secret springs I found and it takes me within 12 ft of anywhere I need to find!! I paid $169 for it and its the best investment I've made[]
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[Old_Coot]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 2]Oops ... I did mean Legend (not Legacy).[/size][/font]
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[polokid]

In my opinion, you cant go wrong with any of the Garmin etrex models. My hunting buddy had the etrex vista, and it did everything you could think of besides cook you breakfast. I definitely want one, unfortunately he left his on a rock up on bald mountain in the uintas, But i did study up on them and supposedly they are super water proof, so this spring, I am going to go for a hike and see if it is salvageable!!!!
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[kidsnme]

I have a Garmin Legend and I love it. It has 8 mg of memory which I think is plenty. It has ton's of great features. I use mine for anything: to mark where I find arrowheads, marking fishing holes, hiking, making compass courses for scouts, following a grid pattern when looking for deer/elk sheds, make sure my buddy goes the speed limit in the small towns (his speedometer is broke), trolling speed, and many more. It also has a great feature for traveling that lets you know what services are at on the freeway exits, it will tell you there is a Wendy's, Chevron, ect..

I think the Garmin is your best GPS..
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[bigben1]

I have a Garmin Vista. It is very rugged and waterproof. I like how I can put a fishing hole marker on fishing waypoints. They have an AWESOME new unit coming out within the next few months. I will try to provide a link later.
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[DKSRenegade]

Bigcat, I got an etrex last year and love it. It is simple to learn and use but it does have a small memory. I use mine the same way you said you will use one. I don't need a road map or freeway system to confuse me. I like it simple. Garmin has a new line of easy to use units called geco that are under $150.00 and have different control buttons than the Etrex. They are worth looking at. DKS
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[Bigcat]

Thanks to all who offered GPS advice and experience. It was very helpful. Especially kidsnme because now I'll know which exit Wendy's is on! (Does is show Dairy Queen.... I love those blizzards!) Just kidding. I think I'm going to get the Garmin etrex legend. Seems to be a good unit with mapping capibility and some memory. Probably plenty good for what I will use it for. Thanks again for all the advise! Fish on!
Bigcat
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[tubeN2]

I bought the Garmin Rhino 110. It is loaded with memory, 1000 waypoints, 20 reversible routes, fish and hunt feature, sunrise/set-moonrise/set. FRS/GMRS radio with 22 channels and 38 subcodes per channel, proximity alarm + much much more. $150 buck at wallys world.
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